Have you just gotten married? Well, if you have maybe you are already considering getting pregnant. Having a baby is a joyous thing. Just thinking about a baby growing inside the woman’s belly fills one with wonder. Not many are blessed with such gift thus; if you are blessed with one make sure you take extra care and precaution, especially when driving. This activity cannot be helped so it is just up to you to protect yourself in the event of a car crash. 

Two safety car features that are most useful to pregnant drivers are the seatbelts and airbags. Some say that these two pose even more threat to the fetus, however, that is not quite true. These safety features become threats when they are worn or used in the wrong way. A pregnant woman involved in a car usually survives but the fetus usually doesn’t. This happens because the impact of the crash causes placental abruption, a situation where the placenta breaks apart from the fetus thereby disrupting the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. The unborn baby is very delicate and without oxygen and the nutrients, it cannot survive. So, the best thing that a pregnant woman like you can do is to be very careful when you drive.

There are also some things that you can do to be safe when driving while pregnant:
• Shift the front seat as far back as possible.
• Ensure that your breastbone is approximately 10 inches from the steering wheel.
• If your car has a lap belt, position it under your belly and not across or on top of it.
• Once your belly gets bigger, move the seat back and far as possible to maintain a safe distance between your belly and the steering wheel.
• Keep your distance from the airbag as much as possible.

These are only some helpful tips. The best thing is to avoid driving if you can.

Photo Credit: 800Bucklup

Have you ever thought of the rain as something beautiful? I have. To me, falling rain is symbolizes a form of cleansing the surroundings from filth and other things that can contaminate. After the rain I always think that things seem fresher and better than before. Every time the rain pours I always equate it with new beginnings. That is the reason why I love the rain. But, beyond its beauty, the rain can be a fatal. Veteran drivers know this for a fact. If you watch the news, you probably see and hear that many road accidents occur during rainy days since moisture makes the roads very slippery. Caution must be carefully observed at this time because moisture on the pavement and asphalt causes the tires to lose traction or grip initiating the tires to slip.

Those who are old hands at driving are already knowledgeable on how to handle this kind of situation. Novices must take heed of the right things to do when driving during rainy days. Here are some safety tips for driving in the rain.

• Allocate more Travel Time – Maneuvering a car in slippery roads is a tricky business so, you can’t speed up that much. If your destination is far it is better for you to leave early.  And if your route is flooded you still have time to find other means of getting to your destination.
• Mind Your Brakes – Don’t stop your car abruptly to prevent the car behind from crashing into your rear. When you press the brakes make sure you do it with less force.
• Don’t Force Your Car Through Running Water – Attempting to do this will surely get you in big trouble. If the water’s current is strong don’t even entertain the thought of forcing through because you might just lose your car entirely and even your life if it comes to that. 
• Turn on Your Headlights – Doing so will alert oncoming traffic of you presence and vice versa. It will also allow you to see the road much better since rain drops can obscure the view from your windshield. It will also help you avoid running over some road obstructions. And if the rain is torrential it would be better if you pull over and wait for it to stop.
• Look out for Pedestrians -  As I’ve mentioned, rain can obscure the view so, just go slow and look to your left and right for people who might be crossing.
So, with these tips do you think you can handle driving during rainy days or nights? Well, I surely hope so. 

Keep safe during the holidays!

Source: Edmunds, Autorevolution

Photo Credit: Go Florida